Clamping-bench



W. H, NORHIS.

CLAMPING BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. Il, 1920. 1,361,284. Patented Dec. 7,1920,

`2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

i ggg@ l W. H. NORRIS.

CLAMPING BENCH.

APPLlcATxoN HLED FEB. I1, 1920.

1,361,284. Patented Dec. 7, 192559.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATESd PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM II. NORRIS, 0F OAKDALE, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 RICHARD C. BOND, OF OAKDALE, LOUISIANA.

CLAMPING-BENGH.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Application led February 11, 1920. Serial No. 357,937.

T 0 allo/hom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WrLLrAu II. NoRRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakdale, in the county of Allen and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamping-Benches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in clamping benches and has rela tion more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in the making of grain doors or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the boards or lumber may be effectively held in assembled relation to facilitate the nailing or kindred operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character wherein two relatively movable clamping members are disposed over the working face of the bench and wherein means are provided for causing said clamping members to move one toward Y the other to engage the work and to maintain the parts thereof in assembled relation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved bench whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereainfter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a clamping bench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in end elevation, with a portion broken away, of the bench as illustrated in F 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the nail box in a second position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, illustrating a rack comprised in the invention as herein disclosed; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a bench of desired dimensions and configuration and which is supported at its opposite end portions bythe legs or standards 1. The upper end portions of the standards 1 at each end of the bench B are connected by the transversely disposed plates or planks 2 while the lower portions thereof are connected by the transversely disposed member 8. Depending from each longitudinal marginal portion of the bench B and extending entirely therealong is an apron or plank 4.

Extending longitudinally of the bench B and overlying the adjacent marginal portion thereof is a clamping member 5 and coacting with the opposite longitudinal marginal portion of the bench B and extending substantially entirely therealong is a second clamping member 6 which normally has its opposite end portions rested upon the outstanding wings or extensions tions of the rock levers?) are connected by a retractile member 11, herein disclosed as a coil spring and which serves to substantially constantly urge the upper end portions of the levers 9 in a direction one away from the other. l

Secured to the Vopposite end 'portions of the clamping member 5 Vare the longitudinally disposed members 12,V preferably metallic, and which extend'beyond thev adjacent ends of said member 5. The outer extremity of each of the members 12 is continued by a downwardly directed portion or extension 14, terminating in an inwardly directed and substantially horizontally disposedV arm 15. The free end portion of the arm 15 is pivotally engaged, as at 16, with the upper end portion of the adjacent lever 9.

.Secured to the opposite end portions o f the clamping members 6 are the longitudinally disposed members 17, preferably me-Vr tallic, and which also extend beyond the adjacent ends of said member 6. Each of the members 17 has its outer end portion continued by a downwardly disposed portion lor extension 18, terminating in an inwardly directed arm 19, said arm 19 being hereinV disclosed of a length materially greater than the length ofthe arm 15 here .inbefore referred to. The inner or free end portion of the arm 19 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 20 whereby the upper end portion of the adjacent rock lever 9 may be pivotally engaged therewith at different points as the occasions of practice may require. In other words, the pivotal connection 21 between each of the arms 19 and the coacting rock lever 9 may be adjusted longitudinally of said arm 19. Y

Overlying the outer face of eaclrof the members 3 but spaced therefrom is the transversely disposed member 22 and between said members 3 and 22 the lower portions of the rock levers 9 are also directed, said levers 9 being preferably of a length to terminate below the members 3 and 22 so that no obstruction or hindrance will be offered to the action of the retractile member ll'coacting with each pair of levers 9.

The members 3 and 22, at a point sub stantially midway between the levers 9, rotatably support a stub shaft 23 extending beyond the outer face of the cross member 22. Keyed or otherwise fixed at substantially its center through vthe shaft 23 and between the members 3 and 22 is an arm 24 having its opposite ends provided with the reversely related but substantially duplicate cam edges 25 which engage the adjacent Vlevers 9 and which levers 9 are maintained substantially constantly in contact with the cam edges 25 through the medium of the retractile member 11. I

Keyed or otherwise fixed to the extended portion of the stub shaft 23 is an end portion of an elongated arm or lever 26 of a length to extend be ond the forward side of the bench B. The arm or lever 26 is adapted to be depressed bythe foot of the operator vand which downward movement of said arm or lever 26 causes the cam edges 25 ofthe coacting arm 24 to impart relative separating movement to the adjacent rock levers 9, resulting in an inward movement of the clamping members 5 and 6 whereby the same will be caused to effectively engage the work placed upon the bench B between said members 5 and 6. The work preferably comprisesthe boards or planks embodiedY in 27 denotes a rack of a conventional type secured to the forward end portion of a member 3r and which is adapted to engage an inwardly disposed part (not shown) carried by the adjacent arm or lever 26 where by said arm or lever 26 may be held in desired lowered position so that the clamping members 5 and 6 may be held in proper engagement with the work during the nailing or kindred operation.

After the door or the work upon the bench B has been completed, itis only necessary to release the arm of lever'26 and move the same upwardly whereupon the retractile member 11 coacting with each pair of levers 9 will impart automatically separating movement to theclamping members 5 and 6 so that the work may be readily removed.

One .end portion of the bench B at a point between the clamping members 5 and 6 is provided with the upstanding cleat or strip 28, preferably at the left end of the bench B. This cleat or strip 28 serves as a stop in loading or positioning the lumber on the bench B whereby the assembly of the door or other work is materially facilitated- I als 't of importanceto provide the upper/portion the cleat orjstrip 28 at its.

kindred .fastening elements. Each end pori Y tion of the box 31 is provided with a depending flange 32 extending transversely thereof and the forward end portion of each of said fianges 32 is pivotally connected through the medium of the pintle 33 with the forward end portion of each of the Y brackets 30. By this means, the box 31may beY readily tilted vforwardly and downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 4,"when it' is desired to empty the box 31'. Y A' In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the lower portion of each of the rock levers 9St is provided'with a plurality of longitudinally spaced anti-friction members 34 herein disclosed as rollers and with which the cam edges 25L of the arm 24a are adapted to engage so that the edges 25 may coact with the levers 92L in a minimum of frictional resistance.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a bench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my inven tion is susceptible of some change and modiiication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice eX- cept l as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a bench, relatively movable elongated clamping members coacting with the working face of the bench, members carried by the opposite end portions of the clamping members and eX- tending therebeyond, said last named members being continued by inwardly directed arms, rock levers pivotally engaged with the arms and arranged in pairs, a cam interposed between each pair of rock levers for imparting movement to said levers in unison but in opposite directions, means for rotating the cam member, and a spring connecting the levers of each pair forl constantly urging the levers in a direction toward the cam.

2. A device .of the character described comprising, in combination, a bench, relatively movable elongated clamping members coacting with the working face'of the bench, members carried by the opposite end portions of the clamping members and extending therebeyond, said last named members being continued by inwardly directed arms, rock levers pivotally engaged with the arms and arranged in pairs, a cam interposed between each pair of rock levers for imparting movement to said levers in unison but in opposite directions, means for rotating the cam member, and a spring connecting the levers of each pair for constantly urging the levers in a direction toward the cam, the connection between a lever of each A pair with its coacting arm being adjustable in a direction longitudinally of said arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. NORRIS. 

